Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsatai’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsatai’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; white-colored flowers with yellow and pink-colored throats; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zalsatai’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsatai’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeria cultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flower colors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 1998 in Hillegom, The Netherlands, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 97-669-4PN, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 97-285-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands in April, 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, since August, 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Zalsatai’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsatai’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsatai’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. White-colored flowers with yellow and pink-colored throats.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria has larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent         selection differed in flower color as plants of the female         parent selection had pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         has solid white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Stabec, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,041. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Stabec in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have shorter flowering stems         with shorter internodes than plants of the cultivar Stabec.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria has smaller flowers than         plants of the cultivar Stabec.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the cultivar Stabec         differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Stabec had         red and white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsatai’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C., soil temperature was about 14° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about one year-old. The photograph and the description were taken during March and April, 2005. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar ‘Zalsatai’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection             identified as 97-669-4PN, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida             identified as 97-285-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to             155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.             Vigorous growth habit.         -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90             days.         -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 240 to             260.         -   Plant height.—About 90 cm to 120 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About             120 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Internode length:             About 1 cm to 4 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Foliage description.—Leaves simple and asymmetrical;             sessile. Length: About 15 cm to 20 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm             to 3.5 cm. Shape: Linear to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire; weakly undulate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern:             Parallel. Color: Developing and fully developed foliage,             upper surface: Close to 137A; slightly glossy; venation,             similar to lamina. Developing and fully developed foliage,             lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, similar to lamina. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and             continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 20 to 25 days.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:             145B.         -   Umbel length.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.         -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 15 to 20.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Outer             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6 cm to 7 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Length, median             segment: About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm. Width, median segment:             About 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Shape, lateral and median segments:             Obovate. Apex, lateral and median segments: Emarginate with             apical tip. Base, lateral and median segments: Attenuate.             Margin, lateral and median segments: Entire; weakly             undulate. Texture, lateral and median segments: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color, lateral and median segments, when             opening and fully opened, upper surface: 155B; towards the             base, blushed with 77B; apical tip, close to 144A. Color,             lateral and median segments, when opening and fully opened,             lower surface: 155B; towards the base, blushed with 77B;             apical tip, close to 144A. Inner perianth: Length, lateral             segments: About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm. Width, lateral segments:             About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Length, median segment: About 5.5 cm             to 6.5 cm. Width, median segment: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm.             Shape, lateral and median segments: Oblanceolate. Apex,             lateral and median segments: Cuspidate. Base, lateral and             median segments: Attenuate. Margin, lateral and median             segments: Entire; weakly undulate. Texture, lateral and             median segments: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, lateral             segments, when opening and fully opened, upper surface:             155B; central area, 7A; random spots towards the base, close             to 77B. Color, lateral segments, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: 155B; towards the base, 7B. Color,             median segment, when opening and fully opened, upper and             lower surface: 155B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm to 12 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 20° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 20° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             diameter: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 174A. Filament             length: About 3.7 cm to 4.3 cm. Filament color: 75C. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 179A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 4.5 cm. Style             color: 75C. Stigma color: 75D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Fruit.—Quantity of fruit per plant: Few. Shape: Globular.             Color: 137C. Size: About 1 cm by 8 mm. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemerias. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from −5° C. to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsatai’, as illustrated and described. 